Florida teacher salaries sink in national rankings to #50

For the 2022-2023 school year, the students enrolled per teacher ratio was already higher than the national average at 20.7 students per teacher in Florida, but estimates show that student enrollment in Florida’s public schools will continue to rise. The NEA reports estimate that in the 2023-2024 school year, the percentage of teachers in Florida’s public schools will decline by 3%, a decline that could worsen the existing teacher and staff shortage.

The NEA report also shows that chronic low pay is plaguing the profession nationally, both for teachers and education support professionals. 77% of school districts still pay a starting salary below $50,000, while almost 38% of all full-time K-12 education support professionals earn less than $25,000 annually. Yet nationally, the report shows that teachers earn 26% more, on average, in states with collective bargaining.

“Every student, regardless of race or place, deserves caring, qualified, committed educators. And every educator needs our fierce support in helping them inspire imagination, curiosity, and a love of learning and to provide the skills students need to thrive in their brilliance,” said Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association, in a press release on their report. “The good news is that through their unions, educators have demanded respect and a seat at the table and have used the power of their collective voice to demand more. More for their students, more professional respect, and more pay. By holding elected officials accountable, educators will earn the respect, competitive wages, and support they deserve to provide their students with the skills needed to fulfill their dreams in safe, just, and welcoming learning environments.”